Shahid Saeed

October 31, 2018. A day signalling promise and hope yet for Pakistan. For on this day the Hon’ble Supreme Court announced the much-awaited judgment on the Asia Bibi case. After almost a decade of incarceration, including 8 years on death row, Asia Bibi stood acquitted.
And then, madness ensued. The white in our national flag turned crimson, yet again! One cannot even begin to fathom what all … [Read more...] about Rule of the mob, not the Law

Woh kaun hein jinhein tauba ki mil gyai fursat (who are those with time to seek repentance) humein gunah bhi karnay ko zindagi kum hai (for us even to sin life is short)
The date 31 October 2018. A day signaling promise and hope yet for Pakistan. For on this day the Hon’ble Supreme Court announced the much-awaited judgment in the Asia Bibi case. After almost a decade of incarceration including … [Read more...] about Rule of the Mob not the Law

The date 31 October 2018. A day signalling promise and hope yet for Pakistan. For on this day the Hon’ble Supreme Court announced the much-awaited judgment in the Asia Bibi case. After almost a decade of incarceration including 8 years on death row, Asia Bibi stood acquitted.
And then madness. The white in our national flag turned crimson yet again! We cannot even begin to fathom what all Asia … [Read more...] about Rule of the mob not the law

“I am ready to die for a cause, I am living for my community...and I will die to defend their rights...I will prefer to die for my principles,” said Shahbaz Bhatti in a video floated on the internet, filmed apparently some four months ago.
When I was nine years old, like most other children I spent all the day with friends from the neighbourhood cycling and playing cricket. Faraz and … [Read more...] about Murder most foul

The members of Jamaat-e-Ahle Sunnat Pakistan did not bring your party to power nor does the PPP represent the Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan. Tahaffuz-e-Namoos-e-Risalat Mahaz members do not vote for your party and you did not get elected because of the Sunni Tehrik. The Hindu, Christian and Ahmedi citizens of Pakistan do not look up to these parties for their rights; they look at parties like yours. … [Read more...] about An open letter to President Zardari  II

On a cold and dark day in Islamabad, an elite force commando snatched from this nation its most vocal, secular and liberal politician, the proudest supporter of minorities, a husband, a father and a friend of many (including yours, sir).
In a province where no one other than the law minister enjoyed relations with a banned terrorist organisation — the manifesto of which, mind you, is to kill … [Read more...] about An open letter to President Zardari  I

Amidst the outrage over the sentencing to death of Aasia Bibi, a 45-year old mother of five, over charges of blasphemy that seem difficult to prove and have triggered a debate on the blasphemy law itself, what has been conveniently ignored is the fact that the said incident occurred after people refused to drink water brought by Aasia Bibi, considering it to be napaak (impure). Ironically, it is … [Read more...] about No minority rights in Pakistan

Sir: We are informed by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) (an oxymoron considering basic education in Pakistan is nearly extinct) that it will shortly “blacklist PhD scholars who plagiarised theses”. I salute Dr Javaid Leghari and the few good people he has around him in the HEC for their valiant attempt to bring educational order to the chaos that governs Pakistan. As a certified … [Read more...] about Blacklisting plagiarising scholars